Winsted's school custodians recognized for their work toward reopening schools on time

JASON SIEDZIK/ Register Citizen
Winsted Board of Education member Monique Abreu hands over certificates of appreciation to the school system's custodians for their work in preparing Winsted's schools for the upcoming year. To purchase a glossy photo of this picture, visit registercitizen.com.

WINSTED -- Despite the tight timeline for asbestos abatement at Pearson Middle School, all three public schools were open for business on time and in safe condition.

Superintendent of Schools Thomas Danehy praised the custodial staff at Winsted's public schools for their work in preparing the schools for the start of classes. Danehy and several members of the Board of Education presented the custodians with certificates in honor of their work -- which is not quite done yet.

Pearson Middle School was closed to the public, custodial staff included, while Wiese Construction of Norwich was completing the asbestos abatement. That work is nearly finished -- Danehy said the third floor has been retiled, and the floor will not be used this year regardless -- but while the building was closed, custodians could not perform their summer cleanup.

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Subsequently, mold developed, and the school district developed a plan to deal with the mold. Ceiling tiles that have turned black will be replaced, and all of the school's custodians have been assigned three or four rooms to clean using a simple bleach solution and HEPA vacuum. Mystic Air, the firm that usually performs Winsted's air quality assessments, will come in to check the progress.

Reach Jason Siedzik by email at jsiedzik@registercitizen.com, via Twitter at @RCjsiedzik or by phone at (860) 489-3121, ext. 321. Follow us online at registercitizen.com and on Twitter @RegisterCitizen. For Register Citizen text alerts, text tornews to 22700. Message and data rates may apply.